This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/9/2009.
On May 7, 1957, against the New York Yankees, Herb Score was struck in the face by a line drive off the bat of Gil McDougald, breaking numerous bones in his face and leaving him bloodied. McDougald reportedly vowed to retire if Score was blinded as a result, but Score actually eventually recovered his 20/20 vision, though he missed the rest of the season. Many believe he feared being hit by another batted ball, and thus changed his pitching motion. As a result of the changes Score made in his delivery, his velocity dropped and he incurred further injuries. Score pitched the full 1959 season and pitched parts of the following three seasons before retiring. In the book "The Greatest Team of All Time" Mickey Mantle picked Herb Score as the toughest American League left-handed pitcher he faced. This is the actual baseball that was thrown by Score, hit by McDougald and stuck Score in the eye and its provenance is tremendous. It comes to us directly from the wife of Mike Garcia who was Score’s teammate. Gerda Garcia has hand written a letter of provenace that accompanied this ball which states, in part, " The night of May 7, 1957, Mike brought home this ball and said 'Put this ball away. This is the ball that hit Herb in the eye. Herb did not want the ball.' The ball has been in my posession from that date until the present" dated August 1, 2009. The ball itself is a OAL Harridge baseball with “Ball that hit Herb Score on eye Pitching against Yankees May 1957 Night Game 1st inning” written in blue ink.